Because I have to- the Disclaimer: Sigh… DBZ isn’t mine. We’ve been through this already.

 
Twelve Eyes Total: The Four Children of Ginyu

Prologue
 

"For this purpose, we don’t need to cause any pain, so keep the knife steady. That’s it. In the middle of the chest there. Good. You’re right on target. Stab it."

The rabbit jerked violently in its last moment of life, the redheaded adolescent’s hunting knife piercing its heart. "Now," continued the instructor. "Carve down the middle from there. Straight line, now. Good, good…"

The other boys watched in a trance as the blade split the tiny hare’s skin and scraped against bone. The blue one, lizard-like in appearance, kept a hand stationed to his lip, careful of any drool that might find its way out. Fasting didn’t suit him at all and a small flame of hope in the back of his mind brought forth the prayer that they might feast upon the animal. It probably wouldn’t have been much better for the smaller kids, that white-haired humanoid and that little amphibian-type. Less than half the size of the other two, they didn’t require as much food but still felt hunger, just the same.

"Stop there," Ginyu commanded. "I’ll take over." He plucked the knife from that shaggy boy, Recoom, and proceeded with the rest of the dissection, cutting by the width of the rodent’s chest. "Okay, boys. Gather close, now."

The rest of the group tightened their circle and awaited further instructions. "Jeice, come on up."

The young lad brought himself to Ginyu as ordered. "Your hand should be small enough. Reach in and find its lung. There’s no penalty if you get the wrong organ."

There was no hesitation at all in the boy as he plunged his small hand into the carcass, still warm and moist and wrought with the stench of innards. A small grasp to a fleshy something and his decision was made. It took a little work wrenching the connective tissue free but he got it. "Master…" Jeice presented the bloodied muscle. "Is this the lung?"

Ginyu spied the hunk of tissue, taking in every factor to its size and shape to color to its proportion to his student’s hand. Allowing himself a half-smile at most, he reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair. "Good job, son."

"Thank you, sir," was the lad’s reply, his mouth remaining a straight line emotionless. "What shall I do with the lung, master?"

"Give it here."

The Minotaurus threw the organ far as he could, heading off to the opposite direction of the forest somewhere. "There. A treat for the wolves. Thank you, Sir Rabbit." He lowered his head and smiled at the body of the animal. Taking two fingers into the incision, straight into the heart, he knelt to meet Jeice face to face.

"My boy……"

Taking one of those now bloodied fingers—his index—he ran it down the bridge of the boy’s nose, then moved on to do the same to the skin just below his eyes. "Let that blood stay on you for a week and a day. Don’t wash your face and be careful of rain. Let it seep through your skin, mix in your body. After that, run everyday from our home to where Hunds is at its strongest, and then, before you ever realize it, you can be swift like Sir Rabbit. That is your assignment. Come now. West towards the river…"

"Excuse me, sire?" Berter spoke. "Are we going to eat the flesh?"

Ginyu chuckled a bit. "One rabbit won’t fill all our bellies. If we eat this one, we’ll have to hunt others. Let’s leave the population intact for now, hmm?"

And walked he past the oak, past the bramble, westward deeper into the forest. The youth sighed, his stomach singing the depressive tune of the foodless blues. "Good try," whispered Recoom upon his passing.

Not good enough, he thought in response as he trailed on all fours behind him.

"A frog…?"

"Mm-hmm. This little creature right here in my hand is one of your ancestors."

"What’s an ansister?"

"An-ces-tor. They are relatives from long, long ago, before any of us were living."

"I’m related to a frog….?"

"Don’t sound so disappointed. You should be proud. They existed long before mammals and still survive today. Keep those eyes open, boy. See this pond? It’s all brimming with the experience and knowledge of your ancestors, those swimmers."

"Am I a frog, then?"

"Do you remember the day you hatched? Was it wet when you got out?"

"…I don’t remember."

"Then it’s not important. I’ll tell you what I am: a man of bovine decent; a Minotaurus. My ancestors were persecuted, rounded up and kept locked away on an island in the middle of the sea and fed the bodies of dead humans. It makes me so mad I could spit… But that doesn’t make me a man-eater, nor you a flycatcher. Do this for me: Swim. Get good and strong in the water. Get so strong that you’ll be able to breach the most violent currents of the Hunds River. Cut the water like your ancestor, Sir Bullfrog."

It was always refreshing, a trip to the Hunds River, and good for the kinderlach, as well. The sun always seemed to shine a little brighter there and the water was always brisk and good, just the way he liked it.

"Sire! Sire!"

Ginyu’s head rose to meet a waving and smiling Recoom. "Watch!"

Raising his right hand to the sky, palm open, he leaned toward the water, eyes wide open and eyeing the current. BLOOSH--! That old clear water arched and broke with the motion of his paw and clasped in his fingers, a salmon of pleasant size. "Good boy," praised the master at the other side of the river. "Practicing the talents of Sir Bear?" He nodded proudly in response.

"But are you hungry, boy?"

"Uh…" Honestly, he wasn’t. Feeling a little disappointed, if not embarrassed, he knelt to return the fish to the water.

"Hey, hey, just a minute, now." Ginyu rose to his feet. "Before you do that, see if anyone else would like to eat."

Recoom nodded. "Yes, sir. Hey, Jeice! Guldo!" The two were playing farther down the river looked up. The redhead held up his salmon. The younger children exchanged glances.

"You hungry?"

"Nuh-uh."

"No thanks!" Jeice declined as politely as a child could. "We’re not hungry!"

"Mm." The adolescent humanoid turned to his lizard friend, drinking of the river at the same bank as he, and offered him the catch. Berter slapped the hand holding the fish away and growled: "I can finish my assignment on my own. I don’t need anyone’s help."

Ginyu’s face faulted at that. "Berter," he called to him. "Just because Sir Lone Wolf is proud doesn’t mean he’s stupid, especially when it comes to an easy meal. Eat your fill and gather your strength for the hunt. None of us will think any less of you for it."

His resolve broken down by that statement, the blue adolescent took from his friend the catch he’d been so proud of. "…I’m sorry… about that."

Recoom smiled. "It’s alright." He sat beside him, keeping good company as Berter ate quietly of the salmon. He preferred his food like this, fresh and without being tainted by fire; the saltiness of blood and bitterness of innards suited his palate well, as did the company of his brother under Sir Bear. He was the only one to show insufficient progress in his assigned work. Following Sir Lone Wolf is so difficult..! Why did Master give me this task?!

In the distance, the howls of wolves fill the night sky…

"Does it scare you hearing that?"

"No. I turned my fear into respect years ago."

"Really. What made you?"

"I came across a dead wolf in the forest once. I don’t fear the dead, but I do have enough sense to respect them."

"Hm. You’re a smart, smart lad. …Can you hunt on your own?"

"Not very well."

"Neither can a lone wolf. Do this: Walk on all fours and get your hands good and dirty. Find a fowl or a rabbit or any animal you feel you’ll be able to take and kill it with your own devices—no weapons. It will be difficult and you may be hungry for a while, but when you finally succeed in the face of your desperation, you’ll be proud—truly proud—like Sir Lone Wolf."

A cold splash of water brought his thoughts back to real time. "You shouldn’t brood so," grinned the culprit, Recoom. "You get this look on your face which doesn’t suit you at all."

"Really?" He cupped and ran his hand along the water’s surface and doused his companion. "Well neither does a wet mop of hair on you. It’s very unbecoming. You should go sit in the sun or something."

"Is that how it is?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Well, I’ll believe you..." The humanoid stood and grabbed a few tendrils of his hair, wrenching the excess moisture out of them. "But only because I don’t want to get wet."

"Well, fine. Thanks for the fish." He placed his frame on hand and foot and raised his voice to carry. "Master? Is it all right if I hunt now?"

"So early?"

"Duck and quail are only about during the day, sir."

"Mm. Fine, fine," sighed his senior, gesturing for him to be off. "Be back home before dark and mind the large animals."

"Don’t you think it’s a bit suspicious, him just waltzing into this area and then offering to take care of us?"

"He’s been plenty of help so far. It’s not so hard getting food now..."

"That’s not the point. The kids are getting too close to him. What if he’s just trying to fatten us up with food and feelings to capture us for sale? I don’t know about you, but I’m not going back to that life. Not ever."

"Jeice ‘n’ Guldo would be able to tell, right? You can’t fool kids and you can’t fool animals, that’s what they say."

"Then why can’t either of us be sure..?"

"We’re too old. Our innocence is over."

"Well, I’m not about to be taken by some nameless, travelling wastrel and be put back in some soulless factory again..! I say take our knives and slit his throat while he sleeps."

"W-Wait, now..! Before we get to any of that, why don’t we ride this until winter’s end? With him, we can get plenty of food, right? This guy’s brought back more food in this season than in our best heist from the neighboring village’s harvest..! Then once we’ve survived another year, off with his head, yeah?"

"We might be slaving away in an ammunitions manufacturer by then…"

"Relax. If he really wants to sell us off, he’ll do it when we’re good and healthy. That way we’ll sell for a lot more. In any case, it’ll be a while ‘til any of us are fit for that kind of work, so we still have plenty of time."

He hated the forest at night. It was too dark to make of anything and familiar places became distorted. He thanked the trees that he’d been near the river. Wading through the water would keep any predators from tracking the scent of his blood. The young one hoped the shirt tied round his waist would apply enough pressure to his wound. Master would be angry, he knew, for coming home well past twilight, but he couldn’t risk the threat of meeting up with other wolves. He dragged the boar’s carcass through the water to keep its smell from the winds.

His heart had stopped when in his ears he heard the hideous squeal. His luck couldn’t have been worse, the Devient Boar: Most feared animal of the forest presented to him as his quarry. Spitting up blood and trampled and gored but found victory in his struggle by bending the creature’s head back far enough to snap its neck. Rather stupid of him, he figured, going up against Boar. Even if he’d ran instead it wouldn’t have let him escape. So hungry… Ah, for the salinity of blood! This would be for everyone—it was enough for everyone—and he’d have to make haste before the kill went to rot. The scent of burning pinewood… A hearthfire? He was finally coming close to home…

"Berter’s not back yet?"

"No," was the master’s reply, looking from the window of the stone hut. The boy was so troublesome, had been for as long as he’d known him. He couldn’t be faulted too much now, though. His behavior had improved in leaps and bounds, but still, hadn’t he been clear is saying be back before dark? Hmm. I pray for your safety, my boy…

"Master!"

Ginyu’s ears perked. What had he heard there from the forest’s mouth?

Ah, spring thaw… The ground was a little wet but he didn’t mind so much, with the sun shining overhead. He loved taking a rest under a tall fir, with only the squirrels to keep him company.

"Sir?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I speak with you?"

"Well can you? You're not mute and I'm not deaf and we speak in the same tongue."

"……Huh..?"

Whoosh… "Nevermind, son. Speak."

"Um, I heard… Recoom and Berter talkin’…" A young Jeice kicked at the dirt. "They said tonight they’re gonna slit your throat, while you’re sleeping…"

"Hmm? Why would they do a thing like that?"

"They think you’re gonna sell us to a factory, but they’re wrong… You helped us out a lot, so I think you’re nice enough."

"Why, thank you."

"……You aren’t really a slavetrader, are you?"

"No, of course not. I just wanted to live a peaceful life with some children beside, and that’s what I’m doing."

And on that late night…

"No matter what you might hear, don’t get up, you two. Understood?"

"…Uh-huh."

Recoom smiled as he ruffled Jeice’s snow-white hair and patted Guldo on the back. Then he and Berter proceeded to the next room where that person they only referred to as ‘Sir’ or ‘Master’ or ‘Sire’ was permitted to stay. The door creaked a bit as he pressed his hand to open, his blue brother following close behind. The Minotaurus never slept lying down. Rather, he slept in a chair, sitting up, head cocked to the left with a dreamy smile on his face. Clutching that knife, his palm was so sweaty, his right hand quaked. He stepped toward that seemingly slumbering man, his breathing heavy and wiped his brow with his free hand. In front of him now, he raised that blade, kept clean and polished just for this moment, trembling…

"Stop."

Recoom looked over his shoulder. "You can’t hold the knife steady. What’s wrong. Having doubts?"

"Of course not. I just……" He looked away.

"Don’t want to go through with it? Is that what you want to say?" Berter asked in a disgusted tone. He snatched the hunting knife from his apprehensive companion and marched to that man he fear would return him to Hell.

"I’ll do it. I’m never going back there, and neither is anyone else..!"

"Would you really slit the throat of a sleeping man?"

Both boys jumped back. He wasn’t asleep after all, then… Ginyu kept his eyes shut and kept on. "Why don’t you do this: Go get some rest and tomorrow night we’ll settle this like men with fisticuffs. If you really want to kill me, why don’t you do it honorably? At least then you’d be able to live with yourself."

The pre-teen growled. He had the knife right there in his hand, and the target’s eyes were closed, so why couldn’t he..?

"Come on, Recoom!" He snarled on his way out. "The animals will start coming out soon, so we need to be well rested for tomorrow!"

"But Ber--"

"COME ON!!"

"An inch more to the right and you’d have been dead. You’re very lucky to have survived this, Berter. Didn’t I say to mind the large animals..?"

"I’m sorry, sire…"

"Well, you’re forgiven this time. What were you thinking trying to hunt Devient Boar?"

"I wasn’t. It was dark and I didn’t know the scent, so I just went for it."

"In the future, please do all your hunting during the day, alright?"

"Yes, sir."

"……Very good work, though. Are you proud?"

"No. Just happy to be alive. …Sir, did you know beforehand that my assignment would be difficult?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Then why did you..?"

"Because you are..."

"You think you’re gonna make some money off us, my brothers and me?"

"No, but I think I’ll live comfortably after this."

"I can take you. I didn’t spend two months planning our escape just to be thrown back in by some slavetrader..!"

"Are you going to stand there bragging all night or will you come and kill me?"

"You…… You animal!!" He lunged at the older man, fist drawn back, fangs bared. With all the grace his ancestors gave him, he dodged nimbly the first fist and its counter. His moves were so uncoordinated, bumbling, obviously had no concept of how to fight whatsoever. Berter tried for a quick jab, but a miscalculation! He extended too far, a mistake easily spotted by the twitching eyes of Ginyu, grabbing said arm and swinging him around by it, throwing him to the dirt. Snarling, the boy stumbled on his hands and feet rushing to his ‘enemy,’ his hand locked in a swiping position. An uppercut plowed into the blue one’s jaw, snapping it shut and sending him upward and outward and back to the earth. Before the boy could bring himself to stand, Ginyu stomped a foot to his face and pinned his arms behind him.

"Tell me," spoke the Minotaurus in a quiet, angry tone. "Would a slavetrader damage potential goods like this?"

"Sir!" Recoom cried. "Sir, stop! Stop, please!"

"I won’t stop until he either gives up or I crush his skull!" The older man bellowed. "If he wants to be a man, he’ll take his lumps like one! So answer me, young man," He put more weight on the adolescent’s temple. "Would you still try to take my life now, even when yours is now at stake?"

"Get…… Get off..!" He answered, enraged, blood spurting from his mouth.

"So then, do you surrender?"

"…Never…"

Glaring, Ginyu relinquished his grip on his assailant, then gave him a swift kick in the mouth, its receiver turning in midair and landing on his side, crying out and writhing in the dirt. Not enough still, Ginyu approached him again, clutching a fistful of his soiled shirt and pulling him to meet his face. "Still?"

"…I’ll kill you…"

Sighing, the man sent a hard fist to his muzzle again and again and again, pushing back his wants to cease as the boy’s skin split and fresh blood rolled down his face. He closed his eyes and just kept hitting, hoping it would be enough not to see this. "E… Enough..!" Berter coughed. "Enough!!"

Finally… No sooner than did he release the lizard from his vices did his brother, that shaggy Recoom, leap to his aid. "Berter! Berter!" He sunk to his knees and scooped his broken ‘kinsman’ in his arms. "Gods, Berter, what were you thinking..? You and I both knew you wouldn’t be able to do anything..!"

"…I……I hate him." He whispered, his throat tightening.

"I know, but he won’t hurt us. He really won’t."

"I knew that…But I…… We… It’s my family, dammit! Who does he… waltzing in here, taking my family..?!" He buried his face in the humanoid’s shirt, staining it with both water and blood. "Papa… Papa sold me for booze……"

"Everything’s fine now, it’s okay…" The other boy pulled his head closer to his chest, circling his arms to a comforting hug. "Your Pa’s not here, you’re not goin’ back. I’m not goin’ back, Jeice isn’t, Guldo isn’t... We just have another person who wants to be part of your family."

And that night turned into the next night, and then, to the next night, and the next… In a pit, in the woods, a small campfire…

"I’m sorry, my boy, if I made you feel that way. But I guess it was kind of sudden, me dropping in like that, and after you were so used to doing everything, huh?" The Minotaurus smiled. "I just wanted to live a quiet life with a few children. You guys don’t have a guardian and I don’t have any kids so this works pretty well for everyone, don’t you think?"

"…I’m not mad anymore. What Recoom said made sense to me, about another addition to the family and so forth."

"Well, I’m glad. I don’t think life would have been so good with all those bad feelings being harbored."

"…Will you teach me to fight? I want to be strong."

"I’ll teach you boys everything I know that will be of use to you, as long as you’re willing to listen."

"Yes, then?"

"To tell the truth, no one ever taught me to fight. Everything I learned I gathered from watching animals."

"…I think you’re making things up."

"You’re the one who asked. It’s up to you as to whether or not you believe me."

"Then show me."

"The lesson depends on the situation, so I can’t really say anything right now. You’ll see when the time comes…"

And for the five years in his company they did see the talents of Sir Bear, Sir Rabbit, Sir Bullfrog, and Sir Lone Wolf in that lonely forest running parallel to the Hunds… And for those five years, the past inched its way back onto Ginyu’s heels, soon to leap upon him like a great, black panther… or a mighty dog.